Knights free from salary cap concern

Robert Dillon

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS officials have received assurances from the NRL that they will not breach salary cap regulations if the rookie centre Siuatonga Likiliki plays in tonight's crucial clash with Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.

Likiliki is on standby for veteran Adam MacDougall, who has a knee problem, and travelled to Sydney yesterday as part of Newcastle's extended squad.

The 21-year-old joined the Knights from the Warriors at the end of last year, amid expectations that he would establish himself as an NRL regular this season.

But after being sidelined early in the year with a knee injury, he has been confined to Newcastle's NSW Cup feeder team, the Central Coast Centurions. There were concerns yesterday that if Likiliki was called up, Newcastle's second-tier salary cap would come under scrutiny.

But an NRL spokesman said the Knights had successfully applied for special dispensation.

They took into account Newcastle's mounting injury toll before extending them some leeway. The Knights have already used 32 players this season.

Likiliki played one NRL game for the Warriors, against Parramatta in 2009, and was a standout in their champion National Youth Competition side last year.

If he plays tonight, he will become the ninth player to debut for the Knights in 2011.